CONGRESS MEETS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17941, 8 December 1923, Page 15

CONGRESS MEETS.

a, THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE SUPPORT FOR WORLD COURT. WASHINGTON. December 5. In his message to Congress, President Coolidgo endorsed President Harding's proposal for membership, with reservations, of the World Court. He said that the American foreign policy had always t>eeii guided by the principles of avoidance of permanent political alliances or the sacrificing of independence, and of a peaceful settlement of international questions. "As 1 wish to see the Court established." he said, "and since tho proposal presents the only practical plan on which many nations have never agreed, though it n:ay not meet every desire, I commend it to the favourable consideration of the Senate, with reservations indicating our refusal to adhere to the League of Nations." Tho President said he was opposed to the cancellation of foreign debts, and favoured an adjustment on the principle adopted in connexion with tho British debt. Russ'a would not be recognised, Piesident Coolidgo said, until she recognised private property ownership and the Russian debt after the overthrow of the Tsar. The fixed charges o;t account of the public debt amounted t.> 137,227,797 dollars, including the interest on 890,000,000 million dollars. AMERICA'S PROBLEMS. DOMESTIC, NOT FOREIGN. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLIS ASSOCIATION.) Washington, December 5. President Coolidge's appearance before Congress was notable for his dismissal of foreign affairs with a few brief announcements of policy, and his devotion of nine-tenths of his address to domestic affairs, which, he declared, furnished tlie country's main problems. The chief topics of his domestic programme are that Congress should immediately reduce taxation in order,to save the United States from the postwar economic disorders which have affected all the nations. He urges that tho tariff law should remain unchanged, its elastic provisions being sufficient to prevent inequalities, and that the Government-owned merchant marine should be transferred to private ownership. REDUCED TAXATION. BY CHEAPER GOVERNMENT. (AOSTKAUAN AND H.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) WASHINGTON, December 5. A reduction of taxation by 300,000,000 dollars was recommended at tho opening of Congress by President Ccoliilge. In presenting his Budget, he estimated the expenditure at 3;29>8 ) 080,944 dollars and the receipts at 3*698,763,078 dollars. He said tnat a reduction in the income-tax would he possible because of the big surplus. The President also recommended drastic economies in the cost of Government, effecting a saving of about 275,000,000 dollars. The appropriations a*sked for tho year beginning next -July aggregate 260.000,000 dollars less than those for the current year. The President is opposed to the soldiers' bonus prbppsal. The cost of national defence is estimated at 648,632,238 dollars, a reduction of 35,000,000 dollars. Military pensions, retirement pay, etc., are estimated at 656,300,608 dollars, a reduction of 00,000,000 dollars. "Swift power-boats are needed," tho President said, "to prevent liquor smuggling. Prohibition must and will be enforced. "*'The s rights of twelve - millions of negroes must be protected,, and lynchings prevented. The army and nfttvy should be strengthened and the aeroplane and submarine personnel should not be further reduced, j "The restriction of immigration should be continued. Federal pricefixing and other artificial aids to the farmer would be valueless. His problems are soluble by a diversification of crops and co-operative marketing." "Naval construction is estimated to absorb 35,0C0,000 dollars, the air service 15,000,000 dollars, and naval pay 116,000,000 dollars. It is estimated that Prohibition enforcement will cost 10,531,324 dollars, an increase of 2,000,000 dollars. The President said that the United States had already spent 2,000,000,000 dollars on disabled soldiers, and was prepuring to spend another 500,000;000 dollars, but there was no sound reason for compensation being paid to ablebodied men when the country was prosperous and employment available. The supplementary estimates will include 20,000,000 dollars for additional vessels for the pretention of liquor importations. President Coolidge thinks that a much bigger field force is necesccssary to enforce Prohibition. DEADLOCK OVERCOME. (AUSTEALIAJJ AKD W.Z. CAELK ABHOCIATIOK.) WASHINGTON, December 5. Mr F. H. Gillett has been re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Republican insurgents voting for him for the first time since the deadlock developed on Monday. They thus paved the way for President Coolidge to deliver his first message to Congress. On Thursday the insurgents abandoned the fight when they were assured that they would get an opportunity to offer amendments to the House rules. The minority clique ultimately gained a point when the Republican leader promised them a radical revision of the rules, thus assuring an unlimited debate. The clique thereupon withdrew their opposition to the choice of Speaker

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and proceeded to elect Mr Gillett into the chair. The House then proceeded to ordinary business. THE FRENCH DEBT. EARLY SETTLEMENT LIKELY. (AVStBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATrOH.) WASHINGTON, December 5. What is considered to be an important pronouncement of the French Government's attitude regarding the' debt t:> the United States was made by M. Paul Dupuy, a French Senator, who is owner of ''Petit Parisien," and a close friend of M. Poincare\ M. Dupuy said: "France has always kept her word, honoured her signature, and never denied her debts. Naturally, the question of reparations is a' somewhat complicated matter. We are unable to pay you now, because'the Germans are not paying us, butFranee does not consider the German failures as freeing herself from her debt to tho United States." 'The statements are deemed to be highly significant, because it is known that M. Dupuy conferred with M. Poincare specifically to get instructions a3 to how to answer the American enquiries concerning the French attitude oft the debt question. Observers discern an intimation • that France will presently seek a debt settlement, i J